Day one of our December holidays and we spent quite a few hours walking the grounds of the National Women’s Memorial and War Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein, South Africa’s judicial capital, reminding ourselves of the horrors of the worst armed conflict ever fought in this beautiful country and the many thousands of lives so needlessly lost and wasted between October 1899 and May 1902.
National Women’s Memorial in Bloemfontein
National Women’s Memorial in Bloemfontein
National Women’s Memorial in Bloemfontein
Bust of Christiaan Rudolf de Wet, legendary Boer general.
Grave of Christiaan Rudolf de Wet, legendary Boer general.
DeWetsWild 
Dis ‘n goeie begin vir ‘n vakansie. Ons was mos ook verlede jaar daar (gaats nee, nou’s dit al die vorige-vorige jaar). Vir my is dit nooit maklik om sulke plekke te besoek nie, ek loop gedurig met ‘n knop in die keel. Maar weet jy wat, ek was verstom oor hoe mooi en goed versorg die museum is. Bly julle kon ook daar ‘n draai maak.
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Dit het ons ook opgeval hoe mooi versorg die terrein en die uitstallings is, Corna, en hoe veilig n mens daar voel.
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I’ll have to look up more information on this war. As a history buff, I guess the only wars on the continent I spent studying related to the North Africa campaigns.
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You will find the history of the first and second Anglo-Boer Wars fascinating, John. So much of the tactics employed during the World Wars that followed were “trialed” in these earlier conflicts on South African soil.
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Thanks for the heads up! I’ll be looking for something to read on our upcoming visit to Florida in January.
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That sounds like something to look forward to!
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I’ve visited this memorial site…found it fascinating (and sad)…
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It sure is a very moving place, Lori.
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Ons was ‘n jaar terug ook daar, en het dit werklik baie geniet. Die beelde, die perde, die uitdrukkings op gesigte. Die keel toetrek om te sien hoeveel mense in die konsentrasiekampe oorlede is. Sjoe. Maar dit was goed om te sien hoe die plek opgepas word.
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Ons was ook baie bly om te sien dat daar met die nodige respek na hierdie stuk van ons geskiedenis gekyk word, Elsabe
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Ah, so your travels have begun! Bloemfontein is filled with interesting places to visit!
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It seems as far as South African history goes, Anne, all roads lead through Bloemfontein!
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